4th Duke of Somerset, born circa 1439, the son of Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset and Lady Eleanor Beauchamp. He died on 6 May 1471 at Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, beheaded by the Yorkists, and buried at Tewkesbury Abbey.
He became the 4th Duke of Somerset on 15 May 1464, although his succession to this title depends on the legitimacy of the attainder of his brother Henry. He is sometimes listed as the 3rd Duke.
Heir to the dukedom of Somerset at the death of his elder brother Henry in 1464, but the title had been forfeited by his brother during the reign of Edward IV.
In 1470, when Queen Margaret and the Richard Neville reconciled to restore Henry VI to the throne of England, Edmund made little contributions, and his failure to hold London against Edward lead to the Battle of Barnet in April of 1471 and the death of Richard Neville.
Edmund was at the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 where he commanded the right of the Lancastrian forces and led a charge against the Yorkist Lord Hastings in Red Pierce Meadow. The move was not backed by the two other commanders, the Earl of Devon or Lord Wenlock, and Edmund was defeated. Edmund and other Lancastrian leaders took sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey but they were forced out two days later, tried and beheaded at the Cross in the centre of Tewkesbury. Edmund and his brother, John, who had fallen in the battle, were buried at the Abbey.
Edmund's grave is on the north of the Abbey building within the graveyard, but somewhere in an area now partly covered by the modern shop / café.
He became the 4th Duke of Somerset on 15 May 1464, although his succession to this title depends on the legitimacy of the attainder of his brother Henry. He is sometimes listed as the 3rd Duke.
Heir to the dukedom of Somerset at the death of his elder brother Henry in 1464, but the title had been forfeited by his brother during the reign of Edward IV.
In 1470, when Queen Margaret and the Richard Neville reconciled to restore Henry VI to the throne of England, Edmund made little contributions, and his failure to hold London against Edward lead to the Battle of Barnet in April of 1471 and the death of Richard Neville.
Edmund was at the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 where he commanded the right of the Lancastrian forces and led a charge against the Yorkist Lord Hastings in Red Pierce Meadow. The move was not backed by the two other commanders, the Earl of Devon or Lord Wenlock, and Edmund was defeated. Edmund and other Lancastrian leaders took sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey but they were forced out two days later, tried and beheaded at the Cross in the centre of Tewkesbury. Edmund and his brother, John, who had fallen in the battle, were buried at the Abbey.
Edmund's grave is on the north of the Abbey building within the graveyard, but somewhere in an area now partly covered by the modern shop / café.
4th Duke of Somerset, born circa 1439, the son of Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset and Lady Eleanor Beauchamp. He died on 6 May 1471 at Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, beheaded by the Yorkists, and buried at Tewkesbury Abbey.
He became the 4th Duke of Somerset on 15 May 1464, although his succession to this title depends on the legitimacy of the attainder of his brother Henry. He is sometimes listed as the 3rd Duke.
Heir to the dukedom of Somerset at the death of his elder brother Henry in 1464, but the title had been forfeited by his brother during the reign of Edward IV.
In 1470, when Queen Margaret and the Richard Neville reconciled to restore Henry VI to the throne of England, Edmund made little contributions, and his failure to hold London against Edward lead to the Battle of Barnet in April of 1471 and the death of Richard Neville.
Edmund was at the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 where he commanded the right of the Lancastrian forces and led a charge against the Yorkist Lord Hastings in Red Pierce Meadow. The move was not backed by the two other commanders, the Earl of Devon or Lord Wenlock, and Edmund was defeated. Edmund and other Lancastrian leaders took sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey but they were forced out two days later, tried and beheaded at the Cross in the centre of Tewkesbury. Edmund and his brother, John, who had fallen in the battle, were buried at the Abbey.
Edmund's grave is on the north of the Abbey building within the graveyard, but somewhere in an area now partly covered by the modern shop / café.
He became the 4th Duke of Somerset on 15 May 1464, although his succession to this title depends on the legitimacy of the attainder of his brother Henry. He is sometimes listed as the 3rd Duke.
Heir to the dukedom of Somerset at the death of his elder brother Henry in 1464, but the title had been forfeited by his brother during the reign of Edward IV.
In 1470, when Queen Margaret and the Richard Neville reconciled to restore Henry VI to the throne of England, Edmund made little contributions, and his failure to hold London against Edward lead to the Battle of Barnet in April of 1471 and the death of Richard Neville.
Edmund was at the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 where he commanded the right of the Lancastrian forces and led a charge against the Yorkist Lord Hastings in Red Pierce Meadow. The move was not backed by the two other commanders, the Earl of Devon or Lord Wenlock, and Edmund was defeated. Edmund and other Lancastrian leaders took sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey but they were forced out two days later, tried and beheaded at the Cross in the centre of Tewkesbury. Edmund and his brother, John, who had fallen in the battle, were buried at the Abbey.
Edmund's grave is on the north of the Abbey building within the graveyard, but somewhere in an area now partly covered by the modern shop / café.
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